The objective of these studies was to evaluate the effect of supplying mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) to pig diets on both weanling pig and sow performances. Nursery pigs challenged with LPS to stimulate an immune challenge had increased body temperature and respiratory rate as well as elevated serum cortisol and TNF-α concentration, MOS-supplemented pigs had a lower rectal temperature and respiratory rate which implied that MOS improves some aspect of the immune function of piglets. MOS supplementation in sow diets during late gestation and lactation had no effect on litter size, but the piglets from MOS-fed sows were heavier at birth (P = 0.04), at weaning (P = 0.03), and during the entire nursery period (P < 0.01). Moreover, milk fat and protein levels as well as the Ig concentrations in milk from MOS-fed sows were numerically higher (2 – 12%; P > 0.10) than control sows. Overall, MOS supplementation in the nursery diet may have limited effects on the growth performance, but may have some beneficial influence on pigs under immune challenge. Furthermore, including MOS to the sow diet during late gestation and lactation can potentially improve piglet body weight as well as growth during the suckling and nursery periods.

No description available.

No description available.

Mit der Zucht auf höhere Fruchtbarkeit bei Sauen erhöhen sich die Wurfgröße und gleichzeitig die Ferkelverluste. Damit ab 12 bis 13 lebend geborenen Ferkeln die Verluste nicht exponential ansteigen, muss die Verfahrenstechnik angepasst werden. In Versuchen wurden viele Aspekte etablierter Verfahrenstechnik daraufhin überprüft. Der Schlüssel für niedrige Verlustraten liegt bei optimal vorbereiteten Geburten sowie einer verbesserten Haltungstechnik. So liegt z. B. die optimale Oberflächentemperatur von Ferkelnestern in der ersten Säugewoche bei 38 °C bis knapp über 39 °C, jedoch nicht darüber. Für ältere Ferkel reichen 36 °C. Für die Ferkelnestakzeptanz noch wichtiger ist die Sicherstellung konstanter, vor allem im Sommer nicht zu hoher Raumtemperaturen im Abferkelstall von 21 °C bis 23 °C. Während Zusatzstoffe (Probiotika, Präbiotika, Vitamine in Kombination mit und ohne Antibiotika) für Saugferkel keine Vorteile brachten, führte u. a. der Einsatz eines energiereichen Spezialergänzungsfuttermittels mit Lachsöl und sogenannter ‚funktioneller Lignocellulose’ für die Sauen zu einer Verbesserung des Geburtsverlaufs. In großen Würfen senkt die Beifütterung von Ammenmilch oder Ferkeljogurt ab dem zweiten Lebenstag die Verlustrate und erhöht den Verzehr von festem Beifutter.

Im Prüfjahr 2009 erhielten 842 Tiere (davon 492 Eber der Deutschen Landrasse) einen Prüfabschluss. 39 Eber mit hervorragender Eigenleistung wurden durch den Mitteldeutschen Schweinezuchtverband e.V als Besamungseber angekauft. Der Jahresbericht dokumentiert den Prüfablauf und die Prüfergebnisse. Bei den geprüften Rassen wurden u.a. die Mast- und Schlachtleistung sowie die Fleischqualität untersucht. Die Durchführung der Leistungsprüfung erfolgt praxisnah in Gruppen mit elektronischer Einzeltiererkennung und tierindividueller Erfassung des Futterverzehrs. Es erfolgt eine kombinierte Eigenleistungs-, Geschwister- und Nachkommenprüfung mit hohem Anteil Ebereigenleistungsprüfung zur züchterisch effizienten Nutzung der Prüfkapazitäten. Grundlage der Prüfung, die seit 1995 im Lehr- und Versuchsgut Köllitsch durchgeführt wird, sind die bundeseinheitlichen »Richtlinien für die Stationsprüfung auf Mastleistung, Schlachtkörperwert und Fleischbeschaffenheit beim Schwein (Geschwister- und Nachkommenprüfung)«, die vom Zentralverband der Deutschen Schweineproduktion e.V. herausgegeben werden.

Housing pigs in large pens using a floor base of deep litter has been developed as an alternative to conventional, indoor, intensive methods. Deep-litter, group housing systems are cheaper to establish and are perceived as being more “welfare and environmentally friendly” for pigs compared to conventional intensive systems. However, recent industry records have shown that pigs housed in deep-litter systems have growth performance problems. In general, pigs are 10 percent less efficient in converting feed to live weight gain, are 1 to 2 mm fatter and exhibit more carcass damage (carcass bruising and non-infectious arthritis stifle joint damage) compared to conventionally housed pigs. It is possible that the growth performance problems in deep-litter systems are largely behavioural and possibly stress related, and pose a barrier to adoption of these systems by industry. This PhD program examined the social and feeding behaviour of entire male growing pigs in deep-litter systems in relation to growth performance and stress physiology.

Minimising variability in carcass quality to better meet market specifications is a priority for Australian pig producers, however issues with variability in carcass fat distribution have recently been raised, particularly in the belly primal. There has been a rapid increase in the use of low-cost, deep-litter (DL) housing systems in Australia over the past 15 years for rearing pigs. The inherent differences between the physical, thermal, and social environments of conventional (C) and DL production systems may well alter the growth path of the pig and subsequently alter fat metabolism and hence fat deposition and distribution. The general industry view is that pigs finished in DL housing are fatter and grow less efficiently than pigs finished in C housing, however contrasting carcass and growth performance results have been reported between housing systems. It is likely that the different housing environments affect the maintenance energy requirements of the growing pig, thereby affecting the availability of substrates for fat deposition and/or the requirements for fat mobilisation. Hence, raising pigs in C and/or DL production systems was identified as a likely contributor to variability in carcass fat distribution via the effects of the disparate environments on fat metabolism. The overall purpose of this thesis was to establish the effect of keeping pigs in C and/or DL housing systems on fat metabolism, and therefore fat deposition in the growing pig and fat distribution in the finished carcass. Industry considers that finishing pigs in C facilities allows greater flexibility in feeding and marketing decisions, allowing growth efficiency and backfat to be managed more effectively than in a DL system. Therefore an aspect of this thesis was to also examine the effects of an alternative management strategy, raising pigs in a combination of DL and C housing, on growth performance and fat deposition and distribution in the carcass. The presence of straw bedding is a major difference between C and DL housing systems. This was identified as a probable contributor to the differences in growth performance and carcass fat distribution found between pigs raised in the different housing systems, via its thermal properties and/or the ingestion of the straw on pig growth. Experiment 1a and 1b were designed to test the hypothesis that the growth path differs for pigs raised in C and DL housing systems, affecting biochemical indicators of fat metabolism and therefore fat accretion and distribution in the carcass. The study was conducted as a serial slaughter of pigs housed in C and DL systems allowing the pattern of fat accretion, and therefore the distribution of fat in the carcass, to be determined from 15¨C185 kg live weight (LW). The results confirmed the hypothesis that the growth path, fat accretion and fat distribution in the carcass differed for pigs raised in C and DL housing systems. In Experiment 1a, elevated lipogenic enzyme activities, higher percentages of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and higher concentrations of plasma glucose and lactate indicated lipogenesis was elevated in C pigs to 13 weeks of age, compared to young DL pigs, suggesting that fat accretion was higher in young C pigs. At 24 weeks of age however there was a shift in lipogenic enzyme activities, the percentage of SFA in backfat and the concentration of plasma glucose were higher in DL-housed pigs than C-housed pigs, indicating higher rates of lipogenesis. Elevated concentrations of plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glycerol in DL pigs indicated that lipolysis, or fat mobilisation, was higher in DL-housed pigs for the entire growth period. The results from Experiment 1b clearly indicated that during early growth, C pigs grew faster than DL pigs (0.71 vs 0.66 kg/day, P¡Ü0.05) and were heavier between 8-23 weeks of age (P¡Ü0.05). Therefore in conjunction with the results of Experiment 1a, it was expected that young C pigs would be fatter than DL pigs of the same age. However, dissection indicated no treatment differences in total carcass composition, although there was an effect of housing on carcass fat distribution with a trend (P=0.087) for a lower ratio of fat:lean in the belly primal of DL pigs compared to C pigs at 13 weeks of age. After 20 weeks of age however, growth rates were similar for pigs in both housing treatments and by 26 weeks of age there were no treatment differences in live weight (LW) but the rate of fat accretion in DL pigs, particularly in the loin and belly primals, increased rapidly. Differences in the thermal environments of C and DL housing, and therefore differences in the energy demand for thermoregulation, were likely to have contributed to the differences measured in lipogenesis, growth performance and carcass fat distribution. Experiment 2a and 2b tested the hypothesis that moving pigs from DL to C housing for finishing would improve overall growth performance and reduce carcass fatness compared to pigs raised in wean-to-finish DL housing. The biochemical measurements indicated few differences in the rate of lipogenesis between 13-week-old C and DL pigs. However, and in agreement with the findings from Experiment 1a, elevated plasma NEFA concentrations in DL pigs suggested higher rates of lipolysis. Up to 13 weeks of age, pigs in the DL housing system grew faster than C pigs, however similar to the findings of Experiment 1b, DL pigs were less efficient. In addition, P2 backfat depth was less in DL pigs, indicating they were leaner than C pigs, and though not reflected in total carcass composition, again there was an effect of housing on fat distribution. The move to an unfamiliar housing environment affected growth performance, reduced enzyme activity in backfat and the ratio of SFA in belly fat, suggesting these pigs had lower rates of lipogenesis. However in contrast to Experiment 1a, where lipogenesis was higher in older DL pigs compared to older C pigs, pigs finished in the DL housing had a trend for lower enzyme activity in belly fat (P=0.063), suggesting lower rates of lipogenesis, and higher plasma glycerol concentrations, suggesting a higher level of lipolysis compared to C-finished pigs. The carcass composition data (Experiment 2b) found that though there were no differences indicated by differences in P2 depth, there was a strong trend (P=0.057) for DL-finished pigs to have 2-6% less fat in the carcass as a result of significantly less fat in the shoulder (15% vs 17%) and belly (29% vs 33%) primals compared to C-finished pigs. The difference in belly primal composition was a reflection of the lower enzyme activities in belly fat and higher plasma glycerol concentrations in DL finished pigs. The results suggest that the type of housing during the finishing growth period has a greater impact on fat accretion and carcass composition than the type of housing during the grower period, or changing housing environment during growth. However, changing housing environment at 13 weeks of age affected growth, where there was a temporary reduction in daily LW gain, and therefore significantly lower (P¡Ü0.001) LW at slaughter (117 kg LW), compared to pigs that had remained in C or DL housing from wean-to-finish (123 kg LW). Moving pigs from DL to C housing to control carcass fat and improve growth performance compared to pigs grown wean-to-finish in DL housing, was not successful, and had a negative impact on performance and carcass quality by reducing growth efficiency and LW and increasing carcass fatness. The results also showed that contrary to the industry view that DL raised pigs are fatter, pigs in this experiment finished in DL housing had a lower fat:lean ratio in the carcass than pigs finished in the C system (P¡Ü0.05). The effects of straw on growth performance and carcass composition were evaluated in Experiment 3a and 3b by including straw in the grower and finisher diets (St+) and/or providing straw bedding (Bed+) to C-housed pigs. The experiment tested the hypothesis that the presence of straw alters the growth paths of pigs, affecting fat distribution in the carcass. Straw, as bedding and in the diet, affected pig growth paths and altered carcass fat distribution and, consistent with the findings for DL pigs in Experiments 1b and 2b, there was a trend for pigs with access to straw to have less fat in the belly (P=0.072). Elevated activity of key enzymes involved in lipogenesis, measured in Experiment 3a in belly fat and backfat from pigs fed the St+ diet, and a higher ratio of SFA in belly fat of pigs housed on concrete without straw bedding, suggested that in this experiment straw ingestion increased lipogenesis in belly fat and backfat of the growing pig, whilst straw bedding reduced lipogenesis in belly fat. Experiment 3b demonstrated an additive effect of straw on growth where average LW at slaughter for pigs without access to straw was significantly lower (110 kg), compared to pigs with access to one source of straw either via the diet or bedding (115 and 114 kg LW respectively), and pigs that had two sources of straw available (119 kg LW) (P¡Ü0.05). Although LW differed between treatments there were no differences in total carcass fat (P>0.10), yet there was an effect of straw on fat distribution. Pigs with access to straw had a lower ratio of fat and a higher ratio of lean tissue in the belly primal (P=0.072) compared to pigs that did not have straw. The effect of straw ingestion on lipogenesis and fat deposition may have occurred via the effects of dietary fibre (DF) on the dilution of dietary energy density. Pigs were able to compensate for the energy/nutrient dilution by increasing VFI and therefore growth was not affected, however fat acts as an insulator, and localised differences in fat distribution may have been related to increased heat production (HP) from the digestion of greater volumes of feed. In response, fat deposition may have been directed away from the belly location in order to facilitate heat loss. Floor type may have also affected fat distribution via differences in thermal conductivity. Straw has a lower thermal conductivity than concrete, hence pigs housed on concrete flooring may have a greater requirement for fat in the belly to reduce conductive heat loss. Results from Experiment 3a and 3b provided evidence that pigs housed on bedding consume straw in sufficient quantities. Pigs fed the straw diet had significantly higher concentrations of plasma acetate than pigs fed the control diet (P¡Ü0.001), and there was a trend for pigs housed on straw bedding to have higher levels than pigs without access to straw. An increase in plasma acetate can indicate increased microbial activity in gut, which occurs in response to higher levels of DF. In addition, pigs bedded on straw had higher gastrointestinal tract weights, which can also indicate higher levels of DF intake. Regression analyses of data across experiments showed that P2 backfat depth, the primary carcass composition prediction tool, accounted for less than 50% of the variation in percent carcass fat (R2=0.41). Furthermore, across experiments, P2 accounted for very little of the variability in percent belly fat (R2=0.01). These results highlight the inconsistency of P2 depth as a reliable indicator of carcass composition and the need for the development of additional criteria to be used in the selection of carcasses for specific markets as the composition of the belly primal was not indicated by the current carcass measurement system. From the results obtained in this thesis, it was proposed that: 1) The growth path of pigs is altered by the housing system in which they are reared and the more variable ambient temperature of the DL housing system would increase the energy requirement of young pigs for thermoregulation. As a consequence of the altered growth paths, fat metabolism differs for pigs raised in DL and C production systems. Lower rates of lipogenesis may occur in young DL pigs compared to C pigs and this can change as pigs grow, however fat mobilisation remains higher in DL pigs during growth. 2) Differences in the rate of lipogenesis, indicated by the biochemical measures, were generally not reflected in total carcass composition, however there were differences in carcass fat distribution where pigs raised in DL systems consistently had less fat in the belly primal. Rearing environment may provide an additional criterion when selecting carcasses for specific markets where variability in belly composition is an issue. 3) Pig raised in the DL environment are not always fatter than pigs housed in C facilities, and moving pigs from one housing environment to another during the growing-finishing period disrupts the growth path reducing growth performance and can increase carcass fatness. 4) Straw bedding, via ingestion and via its physical thermal properties, affects pig growth and fat distribution and may explain in-part the differences in pig growth performance and carcass quality found between C and DL housing systems.

Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 31-32).

Soil physical and chemical properties determine a soil's crop production potential and the sustainability of a production system. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of solid and liquid pig manure application on the physical and chemical properties of soil after 5 years of manure application. Solid pig manure increased saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) by 110%, aggregate stability by 30%, available and total phosphorus by 471% and 52% respectively, available nitrogen by 38%, organic carbon by 29% and exchangeable K by 308%, and reduced soil bulk density by 14%. Liquid pig manure (LPM) also increased aggregate stability by 21%, exchangeable K by 45%, available P and total P by 258% and 27%, respectively and, reduced bulk density by 6%. An important finding was the 33% decrease in the concentration of exchangeable Ca in LPM-amended soils. Significant manure by cropping system interaction was also obtained for water retention parameters and available water, total nitrogen and electrical conductivity. There was no effect of pig manure on pH and exchangeable Mg concentrations. Soils under perennial vegetation had 31% greater Ksat, 26% increase in available N, 31% greater available P, 15% greater total P and 12% lower bulk density compared with those under annual crops. Our results show that SPM has a potential as a better organic amendment in improving physical and chemical properties of surface soils. / February 2016

Submitted by clediane guedes (clediane@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-11-17T14:53:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 GustavoFernandesDeLima_DISSERT.pdf: 6636529 bytes, checksum: 7ae6c1c9fd14e9ad0f0a9829cbfe552f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by clediane guedes (clediane@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-11-17T15:10:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 GustavoFernandesDeLima_DISSERT.pdf: 6636529 bytes, checksum: 7ae6c1c9fd14e9ad0f0a9829cbfe552f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-17T15:10:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GustavoFernandesDeLima_DISSERT.pdf: 6636529 bytes, checksum: 7ae6c1c9fd14e9ad0f0a9829cbfe552f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-16 / O controle de velocidade de PIGs instrumentados ? necess?rio, dentro da ind?stria de petr?leo e g?s, para permitir uma inspe??o de dutos de melhor qualidade e maior seguran?a. Isto s? ? poss?vel quando esses PIGs mant?m uma velocidade baixa durante a opera??o de inspe??o de dutos, na procura de defeitos como corros?o, trincas e amassamentos. Este trabalho tem por objetivo propor uma tecnologia para o controle de velocidade de PIGs instrumentados utilizando uma v?lvula by-pass acionada por uma solenoide. Essa v?lvula tem a capacidade de controlar o diferencial de press?o atuante no corpo do PIG. E controlar o diferencial de press?o significa controlar a velocidade desse PIG. Uma bancada de testes foi montada em escala reduzida para simula??o de situa??es de ?tiro? e de acelera??o sofridos pelos PIGs. A bancada permitiu estudar as rea??es das press?es a montante e a jusante da v?lvula by-pass. A l?gica Fuzzy foi utilizada para determinar os tempos de abertura e fechamento dessa v?lvula, com objetivo de controlar o diferencial de press?o. Os testes na bancada mostraram uma redu??o substancial no valor do diferencial de press?o atuante no PIG ap?s a ocorr?ncia do ?tiro?. Tamb?m ocorreu uma redu??o no tempo em que o diferencial de press?o vai ao m?ximo e retorna ao valor de refer?ncia predefinido. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que ? poss?vel controlar o diferencial de press?o atuante no PIG, assim tamb?m a velocidade, utilizando a l?gica Fuzzy, atuando na abertura e fechamento da v?lvula by-pass proposta. / The speed control of smart PIGs is necessary, in oil and gas industry, for allow a better and safer pipeline inspection. This is possible when those smart it PIGs maintain a low speed while performs a pipeline inspection, in the search for defects as corrosion, cracks and dents. Our objective propose a technology for speed control of smart pigs using a by-pass valve triggered by a solenoid. This valve is able to control the pressure differential applied in PIG ?s body. Once we control the pressure differential, it is possible to control the speed of this PIG . A experimental benchmark was mounted in reduced scale for simulation of the PIG speed excursion situation and acceleration suffered by the PIGs . The experimental benchmark allowed to studying the reactions of the upstream and downstream pressure over the by-pass valve.The Fuzzy logic was used for determine the opening and closing period this valve to control pressure differential. The experimental tests show substantial reduction in pressure differential value over PIG after happening speed excursion. Also, the time necessary for the pressure differential go to maximum and returns to default reference value. The results obtained allow conclude which is possible to controlling pressure differential applied in PIG , thus also the speed, using Fuzzy logic, acting opening and closing period of proposed by-pass valve